China Backs UN Chief to Play Role in Issue of Iraq ����China on Wednesday proposed that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan continue to play his unique role in solving the issue of Iraq, according to a UN diplomat ����The diplomat said the proposal was made by Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Qin Huasun, when the Security Council was holding informal consultations on Iraq this morning. ����The diplomat said Qin also recommended that the panel on disarmament issues be well represented. ����Qin said the panel should be comprised of experts from the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) as well as disarmament experts from Council members and other international disarmament institutions. ����Qin said UNSCOM, in charge of dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, is not trusted by most Council members any longer because it played a most inglorious part in the US-led military strikes against Iraq last month, and its latest report on Iraq's disarmament should not be the basis for the panel to assess the disarmament situation in Iraq, the diplomat added. ����Qin proposed the UN Secretary-General submit a report on Iraq's disarmament, thus forming the basis for the panel to assess the disarmament situation in Iraq, the diplomat said. ����The diplomat said Russia and other Council members welcomed China's proposals. ����During the Council consultations, Canada also submitted a revised version of its proposal on Iraq. Canada says the panel on disarmament issues would be comprised of UNSCOM commissioners, experts from IAEA, as well as UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs. Opinion 1999-01-29 Page6 Full Story in Chinese